Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Pedagogical Opportunities, Ethical Concerns and the Changing Role of Teachers

The growing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into higher education has generated significant opportunities for transforming teaching-learning practices while raising concerns regarding ethics, academic integrity and the changing responsibilities of educators. The present study explores the pedagogical opportunities, ethical challenges and emerging roles of teachers in AI-integrated higher education. Adopting a qualitative documentary research design, the study examines five purposively selected educational policy and institutional documents through thematic analysis informed by Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework. The findings indicate that meaningful AI integration requires more than technological adoption; it necessitates pedagogical preparedness, institutional accountability and sustained human involvement. The study argues that AI should function as a complementary educational resource rather than a substitute for teachers' professional judgement. The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of AI literacy, ethical guidelines, inclusive institutional policies and continuous professional development for promoting responsible AI integration in higher education. Furthermore, the analysis identifies six interconnected themes: personalised learning and pedagogical transformation, academic integrity, ethical AI governance, changing teacher competencies, digital equity and human-centred educational practices. Particular attention is given to data privacy, algorithmic bias, transparency and accountability as essential considerations in the responsible adoption of AI. The study also emphasises the need to preserve meaningful teacher-student relationships and ensure equitable access to AI-enabled educational resources. It recommends a balanced, ethical and inclusive approach that aligns technological innovation with educational values and learners' diverse needs.